UPDATED: BEMBRIDGE BEACHSIDE SHACK DESTROYED BY LATE NIGHT BLAZE

A burnt out shell is all that remains of a beachside shack after a blaze ripped through the property in Bembridge late last night (Thursday). Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call shortly before midnight reporting that a fire had broken out in the vicinity of Forelands Beach, between Bembridge and Whitecliff Bay. Appliances from Sandown and Ryde were mobilised, locating the incident at the end of Foreland Field Road. The outbuilding was well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived on scene. Due to the location of the incident and the scale of the fire, a water carrier from Ventnor – which travelled through Leeson Road to Shanklin – was requested. Fire crews spent more than 2 hours on scene extinguishing the intense fire and damping down the surrounding area. The blaze has destroyed the shack and everything inside it, as well as charred surrounding landscaping and outside furniture. The fire was so hot that it melted several window panes. Police were called to the scene and erected cordons in the local area amid concerns an individual may have been inside the outbuilding at the time of the fire, due to the discovery of bedding. However, those fears were soon alleviated and all cordons have now been lifted with the incident brought to a close. UPDATE @ 09:02 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary says that the fire is not being treated as suspicious.